Kvitova breezes into New Haven Open finals

Chris Elsberry

Updated 9:46 pm, Friday, August 23, 2013

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic celebrates her match win over Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut.

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic celebrates her match win over Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic returns a shot to Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic returns a shot to Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic returns a shot to Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic returns a shot to Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic cools off late in the second set against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic cools off late in the second set against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic reacts after losing a point to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic reacts after losing a point to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic reacts after losing a point to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic reacts after losing a point to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic returns a shot to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic returns a shot to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic returns a shot to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic returns a shot to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Simona Halep of Romania returns a shot to Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Simona Halep of Romania returns a shot to Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Simona Halep of Romania returns a shot to Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Simona Halep of Romania returns a shot to Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Simona Halep of Romania celebrates her match win over Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Simona Halep of Romania celebrates her match win over Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark returns a shot to Simona Halep of Romania during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark returns a shot to Simona Halep of Romania during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark returns a shot to Simona Halep of Romania during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark returns a shot to Simona Halep of Romania during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Simona Halep of Romania celebrates her match win over Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Simona Halep of Romania celebrates her match win over Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Simona Halep of Romania celebrates her match win over Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Simona Halep of Romania celebrates her match win over Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Simona Halep of Romania celebrates her match win over Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Simona Halep of Romania celebrates her match win over Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Simona Halep of Romania greets Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark after the match during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Simona Halep of Romania greets Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark after the match during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

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NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark reacts to a lost point to Simona Halep of Romania during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in New Haven, Connecticut. less

NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 23: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark reacts to a lost point to Simona Halep of Romania during Day Six of the New Haven Open at Yale at the Connecticut Tennis Center on August 23, 2013 in ... more

Photo: Elsa, Getty Images

Kvitova breezes into New Haven Open finals

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NEW HAVEN -- The first time Petra Kvitova ever faced Klara Zakopalova, in 2007, Kvitova was a fresh-faced 17-year old with very little professional experience. Zakopalova, meanwhile, had been grinding it out on the WTA Tour for eight years and had won two titles.

That was then. This is now.

Kvitova, now 23 and ranked No. 9 in the world, demolished her Czech Republic counterpart in a straight set rout, 6-0, 6-1 in just 50 minutes. The win put Kvitova, the defending New Haven Open at Yale champion, into Saturday's final against Simona Halep, who ousted four-time champion Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 7-5 in Friday night's semifinal.

"I was telling myself that I need to be focused and I was ready for it," Kvitova said. "I played well and I think she made some mistakes. I was the aggressor."

"She just played fantastic tennis today," said Zakopalova, who's 31. "I think everything was working for her. She was the better player today. The way she played today, she can beat anybody. She's hitting the ball flat and fast. She's serving really good and she's moving really good. She did it all today."

Six years have passed since Zakopalova first beat Kvitova, initially in Prerov (a three-set match) and then in Zlin (in straight sets) in the Czech Republic. They met this March at Indian Wells and Kvitova posted a methodical 6-2, 6-3 decision.

This was an even more decisive beating.

"She's improved a lot from the first time we played," Zakopalova said. "She's serving really good. She's serving a lot better than she did six years ago and she's moving really good. When I played against her for the first time, I thought, `Wow, she can be really good because she plays really fast.' I knew that she was going to be a very good player. She impressed me from that very first time."

After playing three consecutive three-set matches here, totaling 6:26 minutes on the court, Kvitova made sure that this semifinal match would be over quickly. She broke Zakopalova's serve three times in bageling her 6-0 in just 26 minutes and then broke her twice more in opening a commanding 5-0 lead in the second. Zakapalova managed to avoid the double bagel by holding her serve in the 12th game but Kvitova never let it go any further, firing an ace to win the final point and punch her ticket into today's final.

"I played my game, finally. I played aggressively," Kvitova said. "From the baseline I was pretty confident. That's important for me to get this confidence. I had a lot of confidence in the things I wanted to do. I moved quite well today. That was good."

In her opening first three matches, Kvitova had been grinding ¦ and grinding ¦ and grinding. She needed 1:55 to knock off Annika Beck, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and then had to go 2:15 to eliminate Alison Riske 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3. After that, Kvitova had to go 2:16 -- along with waiting out two rain delays totaling 166 minutes -- to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Overall, this season, Kvitova has played 29 three-set matches, the most of any player in the Top 100. She's won 18 of them.

Both Kvitova and Zakopalova have played Fed Cup together for the Czech Republic and each considers the other a good friend. In fact, it looked like Kvitova might have (ahem) intentionally hit a few volleys long in Zakopalova's final service game in order to get that "0" off the scoreboard for her friend.

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"It was a little bit (surprising), I felt a little bit sad for Klara," Kvitova said. "It was a bad score for her. On the court, we are opponents but off the court we're friends." "She's a nice girl," Zakopalova said. "She's still the same Petra."